The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-08-25
HOW AMAsk SNOW GOT ON his
FEET.

HOW AMAsA NFOW GOi oN biS
FEET.
AnAsa Snow sat In bis lillle law eiiiee.
his fee, 90 the top fim ei sbe stove, and
bic stove full Of wooi aud red bot Hiss
o.lico was aboa, rod from his house, and
quite near tho high wooden gate leading
into The village street Oser the door
Rad. "Prolbonoiary aud Attorney at
Law" TWAS huge. faded sign 10 black
letters; one could not 80 by Amasa Snow :
oillce add not know OF the business OF it's
occupant The trouble wilh the sign IT
was bot allnnng enough. Squire Slayion,
down the street. with a very small slgn
AMI over a grocery store, aud without
big white house. aud . family name sud
connection Squire Slsyton someho got
all tile business there was going 90 IN
Las, Chestoryille. Amssa Snow sat tilted
back 10 his wooden arm chair. pulling his
loag chin beard, scratching few gray
hairs on bis sloplBg gray bead. aud trying
to conjnro up some new scheme by which
be could beat Slsy ton again, and defer the
foreclosure sale. he had deferred il five
times on one excuse aud another; but Slay-
ton had him now; aud there was no help
for IL. The otd place would have to be
sold the old place where his boyhood
had been passed until he weui TO college,
ani where he had lived ever siuce, aud
ha seen Elk girls grow up abon' him
His six molhorless girls He reached
doan aud broke a splinter of VI = bt Of
pine wood by tue stove, and began to
chew hard on IT, What would become OF
the girlsp Every one beauty ia his
ayes; every one worthy OF marrying the
governor Of the state. How could be tell
them that the sale Of their old home could
be postponed no longer; that every device
aud trick aud every legal quibble, had
been tried aud tried again2 He dared not
tell the girls. lie looked out Of the win
dow; ii was raining. An April shower, to
be sure, with the prospect OF q golden
sunset later on, but making everything
outside look muddy and dismal. Amasa
Snow felt very much depressed. Fate
appeared to be against him.
There were his law books "A couple Of
thousand dingy calf volumes, not kept mp
to date the Inheritance from the Judge. his
father, but even the law books were chat
teled, as they said, /. e., moitgaged. quite
beyond their value Everything he had,
in fact, was mortgaged. He had come
this wet April day to the end Of things
Next week came the sale. He felt like
Swing the deluge He bad not money
enough TO take his family out West.
That was the plan go West. He
hardly felt his fifty years. He felt young
and energetic when he thought OF the
West. BY the-by. there was his brother,
Elisha his brother who In his youth was
20 like him. He was West-in California,
He had not seen him for twenty years
The last he had heard from him was a
request TO send on hundred dollars
That was FIVE years ago. He had sent
him fifty, aud nothing had been heard
from Elisha since, except his name en-
dorsed across the back Of the check, show
ing that be had received the money.
No. it was clear that Elisha could never
help him. Elisha had caused him to lose
several thousand dollars once IN mine.
Elisha's name was always bugbear in his
family since. No, Elisha could not be
ex pected to help him. Stay! An idea
Amasa Snow began to poke the red hot
fire vigorously. 1t was bleak raw ay'
but the fire was hot enough 10 that little
Office il left alone. An idea. Elisha
should be made to help him. II was a
last hope, but it fired him with enthusi
asm. He reached up into dingy hook :
case aud got down 3 file OF letters. He
was looking for Elisha's address.
just then there came tap at the office
door. Amasa turned around. "By JoeF'
he cried, nearly carried of his feet with
astonishment. "It's Elisha in propria
personal
II have come home. said Elisha meek
lly. II have come home to-neighbor
round,
"Aud just in the nick Of time, Elisha
Mighty glad am to see youl" Then q
thought occurred to him, as he shook
his brothers hand with that feeble
wave in the air so copmon 10 Southern
Connecticut, he would not tell Elisha OF
bis financial condition lie might no,
help him II he did. No, he would keep
his oxn counsel.
The two brothers sat down by the stove
and Amsss threw another stick OF pine on
the fire. II was frghtfully hot. See
here Elisha" he said after pause "how
is the Grand American Eagle adoing'"
'she amt doing"
Nothing at all?"
mo; hasn't been for ten years.
II. was splendid mine once. Elisha.
Yon used to say so."
80 IL was. But We struck hardpan
you remember about IT, What's the use
OF raking over old personalities at this
time when | oueht TO be received with
open arms. aud bonfire lighted, aud fire
works touched OFF,
Il know. know. replied Amasa, spol.
ogeticaIly. Il ought to ask how you hap
pened on East this way.
"Wby, yes, you ough. to show some
brotherly feeling It's natural
We'll. Elisha. have you got any ready
money 10 your pocket"
"A thousand dollars.
Auzs. ualked over To bis rusty old sale,